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January 2009

Cover Story

Couple's $500,000 estate gift helps UIndy foster leaders

1/7/2009

The United Methodist-related University of Indianapolis junior Ryan Brock may have never met Walt and Barbara Brown, but for years to come their generosity will support students like him in completing their educations and becoming leaders in their churches and communities. A gift from the Indianapolis couple's estate - totaling approximately $500,000 - will endow scholarships for students in UIndy's United Methodist Youth Leader program. The university awards $2,000 each year to 16... -- more --

Plans underway to create new United Methodist Women of Indiana

1/7/2009

By Carolyn Maxey Plans are underway to create one organization of United Methodist Women of the new Indiana Conference. Unlike the church that became united as one Indiana Conference on Oct. 4, the United Methodist Women's organizations will continue to operate as two entities until October 2009. Although Indiana Area United Methodist Women will function as two separate entities for 2009, plans are underway to embrace the union as one organization of United Methodist Women. The celebration... -- more --

From the Bishop

"Reasons to stay"

1/7/2009

The two Indiana United Methodist Cabinets and I recently met at DePauw University for our annual Appointment Retreat. Our process begins by looking at the "move/stay" recommendations from every pastor and every Pastor-Parish Relations Committee. This leads to our "balance sheet" or "inventory" of clergy, and it begins to help us know how many pastors are retiring, how many seminary graduates are returning, how many new pastors we may need to recruit, and what... -- more --

A prayer for the new president

1/7/2009

In my Nov.-Dec. column for Together, written before the final results of the presidential election were known, I asked you to pray for our new President of the United States, no matter who that might be. Now as we prepare for the inauguration of President Barack Obama, I ask all United Methodists in Indiana to join in the following prayer on Sunday, Jan. 18, just two days before his Inauguration. It is my hope that every one of our 1,200 congregations in Indiana will include a time of prayer,... -- more --

Welcome

It's time for a comprehensive smoke-free workplace law

1/7/2009

The U.S. Surgeon General concluded in 2006 that "nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 to 30 percent." On the flip side of health, studies by Indiana University found that comprehensive smoke-free workplace laws result in immediate and significant improvements in heart health, particularly in non-smokers. The study tracked 22 months prior to and following the implementation of a comprehensive smoke-free... -- more --

Leaders continue to shape new conference

1/7/2009

Work continues toward developing the staff to serve the new Indiana Conference. So far the only staff "officially" selected for the new conference are the Directors selected and elected on Oct. 4. Since that special session, Bishop Mike Coyner also named Adolf Hansen as Interim Director of Human Resources. These directors have been meeting with Coyner and David V. W. Owen, executive assistant to the bishop, to work on staffing needs, including the development of position... -- more --

Indiana

Brightwood Center's Grady honored for children's ministries in Indianapolis

1/7/2009

The Rev. Debra Grady, Indianapolis pastor and executive director of UM-related Brightwood Community Center, was honored by the Indianapolis local unit of Church Women United during a worship service on Dec. 8 at Faith United Church of Christ in Indianapolis. Local CWS Vice President Sue Warrick presented Grady with the Human Rights award. Grady is pastor of St. Paul and Brightwood UMCs, a position she has held since 2001, on North Station Street, which is located in the economically-deprived... -- more --

Churches respond to the environmental alarm

1/7/2009

By Dennis Shock St. Luke's UMC and Epworth UMC of Indianapolis are just two among many churches around the state who are taking action to care for God's creation. Betty Brandt, director of the Spiritual Life Center at St. Luke's, and Jodi Perras, leader of Epworth's "Green Team," have both initiated unique environmental ministries in their churches. Both Brandt and Perras have been recently motivated by concern for global warming and how that will be detrimental to people,... -- more --

Fort Wayne layman elected to serve Board of Church and Society

1/7/2009

Al Bohnstedt, a member of Good Shepherd UMC in Fort Wayne, was elected to a second four-year term on the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society. He serves on the Human Welfare Work Area, Native American Ministries Task Force and the Biblical and Theological Committee.... -- more --

Four pastors selected for Wabash Pastoral Leadership

1/7/2009

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. (Wabash College) - Four Hoosier United Methodist pastors have been selected to participate in the Wabash Pastoral Leadership Program. They include: Holderly Schuvert Walker Williamson Rev.... -- more --

Grant for Lilly Endowment to help University of Evansville fight brain drain

1/7/2009

Efforts by the UM-related University of Evansville to reverse the "brain drain" in Southwestern Indiana received a large boost recently, thanks to a generous grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. The Endowment has approved a $375,000 extension to UE's Initiative to Promote Opportunity through Educational Collaborations. The program, which launched in 2003, is aimed at connecting UE graduates with meaningful employment inside Indiana. With the help of a 2003 grant from the Lilly Endowment,... -- more --

Huntington district announces Cross and Flame Awards

2/11/2009

The Huntington District of the UMC announced its 2008 Cross-and-Flame Award Winners. They were honored during the District Worship on Sunday Nov. 2 at Markle UMC. The awards were presented to these faithful and faith-filled lay members of our local churches whose lives have served as witnesses to others. Recipients include: Alan Arnold of Monroe UMC, Jean Aspy of New Corydon UMC, Robert Bitzer of Bethel (Wabash County) UMC, Joann Dolby of Pleasant Chapel UMC, Valerie Doud of Roann UMC, Ines... -- more --

Indiana Conference receives $3.9 million Lilly Endowment Grant to provide financial assistance, planning for pastors

1/7/2009

By Daniel R. Gangler INDIANAPOLIS - The Lilly Endowment informed Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner on Nov. 17, that it approved a $3.9 million grant to fund a four-year project to assist Indiana United Methodist pastors with intense financial management education as well as funds to assist indebted clergy with their debt load through the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church. Upon this announcement, Coyner said, "this will be a huge project but also a huge opportunity to bless our... -- more --

Martinsville First UMC reopened

1/7/2009

The First United Methodist Church Martinsville held a Grand Opening in November in an entirely new facility at the intersection of State Road 37 and Old Highway 37 just north of the Martinsville Country Club. The church reopened for services on Nov. 16. A "grand opening" followed on Celebration Sunday, Nov. 23. After morning services, tours were given of the new church facility along with a consecration service and formal opening. The old building at Sycamore and Pike Streets was... -- more --

Pre-Lenten Worship Service schedule announced

1/7/2009

Indiana Bishop Mike Coyner has released the Pre-Lenten Worship Service schedule. These services are intended for the clergy of our Indiana Conference to help prepare them to lead their congregations through Lent. The services are open to pastors' spouses and interested laity. Anyone can choose to attend any of these services. Each service will include a sermon by Bishop, Coyner, Holy Communion, and liturgy for the Lenten season. In previous years, Bishop Coyner has conducted two of these... -- more --

Texas bishop to join Bishop Coyner in dialogue on Holy Friendship during retreat for Indiana clergy

1/7/2009

Coyner Huie Tornquist Bloom INDIANAPOLIS - Holy Friendship will be the theme of the upcoming Our Life Together retreat for Indiana's United Methodist clergy. The two-day retreat is scheduled... -- more --

Two UIndy students collect 20 tons of books for African schools

1/7/2009

By Sharon Dunten INDIANAPOLIS - Twenty tons of donated used textbooks started a journey from Indianapolis to West Africa, November 21, in what has been a year-long effort by two University of Indianapolis students to sort, label and box books for an oversea shipment of overwhelming proportion. Lydia Fischer and Lyndsay McBride, two students who came back from Africa last summer after a three-week service with Indiana Area United Methodist Church's Operation Classroom, saw the scarceness of... -- more --

UIndy to hold symposium on Christian Higher Education

1/7/2009

"Called to Unite Knowledge and Vital Piety," a symposium regarding Indiana faith-based colleges and universities, will be held March 27-28 on the University of Indianapolis campus. The event will explore the ways seven institutions of higher education in the state have carried out the Wesleyan aspiration to "unite the pair so long disjoined." Various persons and groups associated with the Wesleyan and Holiness movements founded DePauw University, the University of... -- more --

National

'Extraordinary ordination' has no UMC status, bishops say

1/7/2009

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. - The "extraordinary ordinations" of two women by the unofficial Church Within A Church group "has no official status" within The United Methodist Church, says the Council of Bishops. In a statement, the United Methodist bishops declared the ecumenical ordination of a lesbian and another woman who champions gay rights, which took place Oct. 19 at a United Methodist Church in Baltimore, "was not approved by any United Methodist annual conference,... -- more --

Church, academic leaders gather to strengthen connections

1/7/2009

Leaders of United Methodist churches and higher education institutions will gather this spring at five events in each jurisdiction to discuss how the church and the academy can work together more closely. One of the goals of the events organized by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry is to consider ways to increase the number of United Methodist students enrolled in United Methodist-related schools, colleges and universities. Meetings are planned in the South Central... -- more --

Council for Korean United Methodists provides 'a seed of hope'

1/7/2009

By David Kwangki Kim LOS ANGELES - The church does not belong to those who sit on the pews but to those who are not yet in it, says a Korean-American United Methodist. Speaking in worship at the fall gathering of the United Methodist Council on Korean Ministries, Chicago Bishop Hee-Soo Jung challenged the council and Korean United Methodists to reach out to the un-churched and reclaim the power of Gospel. "Let us have a missional vision, God-size dream for the world. The church does not... -- more --

UMCOR to commence hurricane relief work in Cuba

2/10/2009

NEW YORK (UMCOR) - The United Methodist Committee on Relief will immediately begin relief work in Cuba in response to September hurricanes under new licenses the US government has given to the General Board of Global Ministries. Home reconstruction, food, psychosocial assistance, church repair and livelihoods assistance will benefit thousands of Cubans affected by the hurricanes. "We rejoice in this news and look forward this opportunity to be in mission together with the Methodist Church... -- more --

Global

Africa University requests financial support

1/7/2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AU) - Zimbabwe's economic crisis shows few signs of easing, and United Methodist-related Africa University has issued another urgent call for financial support from the denomination. Bishop Nkulu Ntanda Ntambo, chancellor of the 1,300-student university in Old Mutare, Zimbabwe, released an open letter to United Methodists, asking churches and regional conferences to meet their financial obligations as soon as possible. "The fact that Africa University is even open is a... -- more --

One million mosquito bed nets: a promise realized

1/7/2009

By Michelle Scott BIDJAN, Côte d'Ivoire - In the midst of celebration and worship, the dream of two bishops who live worlds apart began to be realized. Bishop Benjamin Boni of Côte d'Ivoire and Bishop Janice Riggle Huie of Texas handed out the first of a million bed nets, tools needed to prevent malaria, the disease that is a top killer of children under five in this West African nation. Thousands of nets were distributed the first day of an historic ministry that binds together... -- more --

UMVIM seeks to improve short-term mission experience

1/7/2009

United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) emerged out of a tradition of lay ministry epitomized by campground meetings, church raisings, youth caravans and lay-witness missions. UMVIM is a grassroots movement that officially organized in 1976. Each jurisdiction of The UMC now has a Volunteers-in-Mission office. The current challenge for the UMVIM network is to remain a grassroots movement while, at the same time, offering guidance and training for more than 125,000 volunteers serving the... -- more --

Viewpoints

A letter to Martin

1/7/2009

By Bishop Woodie W. White Editor's note: Each year, Bishop White writes a "birthday letter" to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. about the progress of racial equality in the U.S. White was the first executive of the General Commission on Religion and Race, and a former Bishop of the Indiana Area. He is retired and lives in Atlanta, Ga. Dear Martin, I began writing to you on the anniversary of your birth in 1976. But until now, I have not written a letter when I've been as consumed with... -- more --

Fellowship of the donut

2/11/2009

By Todd Outcalt Anyone acquainted with my eating habits knows I appreciate a good donut now and then. That is why I enjoyed reading Glazed America: A History of the Doughnut, by IUPUI anthropology professor Paul R. Mullins. In fact, this was one of those books I nearly powdered and sugared as I was reading it. My enjoyment of this book was further heightened by the numerous connections that the good professor proffered forth in regard to fellowship and food. In fact, he dedicates a good... -- more --

God is consistent. Count on it.

1/7/2009

By Jean Brindel God is consistent. Not much else is sure in life, but you can count on this: God is consistent: God called Abraham and Sarah to GO to a new place that they might become the parents of a great nation - impossible! They had only one child - in their old age - in an unlikely part of the world, but they believed and followed, and God kept the promise. God told Noah to BUILD the ark so he and his family might be saved from the flood. Noah built it in the desert - when everyone was... -- more --

Chronicles

Appointments -- January 2009

1/7/2009

Bishop Michael J. Coyner has announced the following changes within the Indiana Area. All dates effective 2009 unless otherwise noted. These appointments are based on Cabinet reports received by Indiana Area Communication during the months of November and December 2008. South Indiana Conference Ahlemeyer, Timothy Allen from Bedford: First, Bloomington to Mt. Vernon: First, Evansville, 1/1 Bell, Howard V. from Kent/Kent: Deputy/Kent: Pisgah, Columbus to no appointment, 10/31/08 ... -- more --

Bishop's assistant selected UMA Trustee of 2009

1/7/2009

The Rev. David V.W. Owen, executive assistant to Bishop Michael Coyner and president of the board of trustees at Franklin UM Community in Franklin, has been selected as The United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries (UMA) Trustee of the Year for 2009. The award will be presented at the UMA National Convention to be held in Indianapolis the first week of March 2009. The Celebration of Excellence Dinner is scheduled for March 7 at 5 p.m. UMA is a national association of... -- more --

Bishops adopt guidelines for granting deacons sacramental authority

1/7/2009

By Linda Green The United Methodist Council of Bishops has approved guidelines for interpreting the circumstances for allowing deacons to administer Holy Communion and perform baptisms. The new sacramental authority for deacons, granted by the denomination's top legislative body at the 2008 General Conference, becomes effective in January. According to the bishops, the new sentence in Paragraph 328 that describes the ministry of the deacon in the United Methodist Book of Discipline -... -- more --

Deaths -- January 2009

2/11/2009

KENNETH E. FOULKE, retired pastor (former NIC), died Nov. 21, 2008. A memorial service was held Nov. 24 at the Syracuse Calvary UMC, 801 South Huntington Street in Syracuse, Ind. ELLIS PERRY HUKILL, JR., retired Elder (former SIC), died Dec. 3, 2008 at home in Indianapolis. A memorial service was held Dec. 8. Survivors include: wife, Delores "Dodie" (Thacker) (Wissing) Hukill; children, Ellis P. "Buddy" Hukill III, Mary Kathryne Hukill, Kent Wissing, Joe Wissing and Karen... -- more --

Economy threatens 'Cokesbury checks' for pensions outside U.S.

1/7/2009

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. - Economic woes in the United States are jeopardizing financial support for retired United Methodist pastors in other parts of the world. Since 2000, the denomination's U.S. annual conferences have donated more than $4 million in earnings from the United Methodist Publishing House to support pensions for retired clergy and surviving spouses in the church's central conferences, especially in Africa. In the last 50 years, the Publishing House has given $50 million to... -- more --

MTSO Harding scholarship offers full tuition plus $10,000 a year

1/7/2009

Methodist Theological School in Ohio, located in greater Columbus, has opened its competition for the Harding Scholarship, offering full tuition plus a $10,000 annual stipend to a student entering in the fall of 2009. The Harding Scholarship is one of 50 full-tuition scholarships offered by MTSO. Each candidate for the Harding Scholarship must: be nominated by a judicatory official, undergraduate faculty member or undergraduate chaplain; be accepted in one of four master's degree programs:... -- more --

Volunteer in Mission Leader Training Event coming March 14

1/7/2009

Volunteers in Mission Team Leader Training will be held March 14 at Mexico New Life United Methodist Church in Mexico, Ind., from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Penny Krug will be the trainer. Leaders and/or participants of work teams and youth leaders may wish to attend. Cost is $10 per person, which includes lunch and basic materials, plus $25 for VIM Training Manual (only one needed per church). Topics include properly planning a mission trip, finding ideal places for your church to send a team,... -- more --